Shutdown paralyses Chhattisgarh

Raipur : Normal life was badly disrupted in Chhattisgarh Thursday in response to a protest called against raised diesel prices and FDI in multi-brand retail trade,

Markets and streets in the state capital were deserted in response to the shutdown called by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and other political groups, official and unofficial sources said.

Business establishments and educational institutions remained shut while road transport was majorly affected. Raipur city buses and long distance buses did not ply.

Local train services were cancelled, albeit unofficially.

Shrichand Sundarani, president of the Chhattisgarh Chamber of Commerce and Industries, said people at large were in support of the shutdown which follows the central government’s latest major economic reforms.

This includes the decision to hike diesel prices by Rs.5 a litre, limiting the number of subsidised cooking gas cylinders to six annually as well as allowing foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail.

Reports reaching here claimed wide support to the protest in other parts of Chhattisgarh.